Contaminated foods may have been served at Beebe facilities

The Beebe Medical Center Dietary Department was notified of a national recall of prepared salads which may have been contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, commonly known as "Listeria."

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By Staff reports

Sussex Countian

By Staff reports

Posted Oct. 26, 2013 at 2:57 PM

By Staff reports

Posted Oct. 26, 2013 at 2:57 PM

The Beebe Medical Center Dietary Department was notified of a national recall of prepared salads which may have been contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, commonly known as "Listeria."

It is possible that some of these products may have been consumed by people at the main hospital campus cafés and the Gull House beginning in mid-August until as recently as Oct. 24.

The following foods were recalled:

* Carrot / raisin salad

* Cucumber salad

* Pasta salad (Main Campus only)

* Macaroni salad (Gull House only)

* Potato Salad (Gull House only)

* Coleslaw (Gull House only)

On Oct. 22, it was reported that Listeria had been found in the Reser's Fine Foods manufacturing facility in Topeka, Kan. While it is uncertain if the products were contaminated at the Reser's factory where they were prepared, Beebe officials said they need to alert the public to possible signs and symptoms of illness should these occur.

Some people do not develop symptoms and would not need to be treated. However, illness can be serious. Persons who are most at risk of becoming ill include the very young, the elderly, those with a weakened immune system and pregnant women (to include risk to fetus or unborn infant).

Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, stiff neck, confusion, headache, loss of balance and seizures. Sometimes these symptoms are preceded by vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms most commonly occur one to three weeks after eating a product contaminated with Listeria but can even occur as early as three days to as long as 70 days after consumption.

If symptoms do occur, see a healthcare provider immediately. It is very important the public alert a physician that a recalled food product was eaten and exposure to Listeria may have occurred.

For additional information about this recall, contact Reser's Fine Foods customer support at (888)257-7913, or visit www.resers.com/resers-product-recall-information.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also has issued an announcement about the Reser's Fine Foods recall. This can be found at www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm371955.htm. Call the FDA at (888)463-6332.

"At Beebe Medical Center we care about the health and wellness of our patients, visitors and team members," states a news release from Beebe. "At this time, no one has become ill. However, out of an abundance of caution, we believe that it is important that you are made aware of this recall and the symptoms that could possibly occur."